Base-Grout Bored Piles Checklist: Pressure, Uplift, Acceptance

Definition: Base-grout bored piles checklist guides installing base ports, controlled pressure grouting, uplift monitoring, and acceptance documentation for foundation QA teams, explicitly excluding shaft grouting operations.

Verify port installation, test integrity, and set calibrated pressure limits.
Apply staged pressure grouting and monitor pile head uplift in millimetres.
Capture pressure–volume–time data and acceptance records for traceable QA.
Interactive, commentable, export options with QR code for secure sign-off.

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Checklist

Base-grout bored piles require disciplined preparation, accurate instrumentation, and rigorous documentation to deliver dependable load transfer at the pile toe. This checklist focuses on installing grout ports at the base, executing controlled pressure grouting, monitoring uplift, and recording volumes and acceptance outcomes. It covers pile base grouting (tip grouting) only; shaft grouting is explicitly excluded. You will verify port integrity, use calibrated pumps and gauges, run pressure stages per the approved grouting plan, and track uplift with dial gauges or laser sensors. By logging pressure–volume–time curves and correlating them to uplift response, you avoid risks such as port leaks, over-pressurisation, soft toe response, and undocumented acceptance. The result is a clear, auditable QA trail for bored pile foundations that supports handover and performance assurance per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Use this interactive checklist to tick items, add comments, and export your records as PDF/Excel with a secure QR link.

Use this checklist to confirm base grout ports are installed, tested, and clearly identified; ensure pumps, gauges, and mixers are calibrated; and run staged pressure grouting while monitoring uplift. You will capture photos, pressure–volume logs, and sign-offs for traceable acceptance.
The procedure minimises risks from leaks, blocked lines, excessive uplift, or exceeding design pressure. It aligns grouting stages with real-time measurements, establishes clear stop criteria, and preserves material traceability, producing defensible records per approved project specifications and authority requirements.
Interactive online checklist with tick, comment, and export features secured by QR code.

Pre-Grouting Readiness

1. Confirm pile ID, design grouting pressure limit, target grout mix, acceptance criteria, and stop conditions against the approved grouting plan; record document numbers and obtain superintendent sign-off.
2. Verify concrete has achieved the project-specified early strength before grouting using compressive test reports or rebound hammer correlation; attach lab results showing strength in MPa and acceptance sign-off.
3. Check access, lighting, exclusion zone, and emergency egress around the pile head; capture site photos and a signed permit-to-work confirming controls, barriers, and communication plan.
4. Review as-built pile records for toe level, final depth, and groundwater notes; verify alignment with drilling log and approved design; attach the verified as-built with reviewer initials.

Port Installation and Integrity

5. Confirm base grout ports are fixed to the reinforcement cage terminating at the pile toe, with non-return valves and colour-coded, uniquely labelled lines visible at the pile head; attach installation photos.
6. Hydrotest each port line with clean water to the specified test pressure (≥ design grouting pressure) and hold for the required duration without loss; record pressure, duration, and any leak rectification.
7. Verify manifolds, isolation valves, and packers fit securely on each port; function-test open/close operations and document valve positions; capture valve tags in photos tied to the pile ID.
8. Blow through and flush lines to confirm they are free from obstructions; log the flush volume in litres and clear return at manifold, then cap lines to prevent contamination.

Grouting Equipment and Materials

9. Confirm grout pump capacity and relief valve setting meet the approved plan; perform a relief test to verify automatic bypass activates at the set limit; record setpoint and technician signature.
10. Calibrate pressure gauges (range ≥ 1.5 × design pressure) and verify date-valid certificates; attach calibration sheets and photograph gauge face readings at zero and at a known load.
11. Zero and verify flow meter or stroke counter; conduct a timed bucket test to correlate strokes to litres; attach correlation chart and initial verification results.
12. Check grout materials: cement type, admixtures, water quality, and w/c ratio per mix design; record batch numbers, temperature (°C), Marsh cone/flow readings, and retain grout cubes for testing.

Pressure Grouting Operations

13. Install dial gauge or laser displacement sensor at the pile head with an independent datum; zero to baseline and record ambient temperature; capture a photo of gauge setup and zero reading.
14. Prime pump, hoses, and selected port with grout until air is purged; log priming volume in litres and confirm stable pressure without surging before commencing Stage 1 grouting.
15. Execute Stage 1 grouting with a controlled pressure ramp and hold periods per plan; record pressure (MPa), flow (L/min), cumulative volume (L), and uplift (mm) at 30–60 s intervals.
16. Continue staged grouting (subsequent ports if required) following planned increments; do not exceed design maximum pressure; document any pressure spikes and corrective actions taken.
17. Apply stop criteria if uplift exceeds the specified limit or adjacent structures show movement; immediately depressurise, notify the engineer, and record readings, photos, and instructions received.
18. Declare refusal when additional pressure produces negligible volume intake and uplift stabilises per plan; record final pressure, total volume, last uplift reading, and operative’s signature.

Monitoring and Measurements

19. Maintain continuous pressure–volume–time logging via data logger; verify sampling frequency; export raw data (CSV) and attach a pressure–volume curve plot with timestamped axes.
20. Measure and record pile head uplift at defined intervals and at each pressure hold; log readings in millimetres with instrument ID; include before/after photos of gauge scale.
21. Survey pile head elevation before and after grouting relative to a stable benchmark; report net change in mm and surveyor’s certification; attach the survey sketch.
22. Record ambient temperature and grout temperature at the pump discharge and port; note any impact on viscosity or pumping rates; attach thermometer photos showing °C.

Records and Acceptance

23. Complete the grouting log: port IDs, start/stop times, pressures, volumes, uplift readings, and anomalies with corrective actions; obtain supervisor verification and date.
24. Compile material traceability: cement and admixture lot numbers, water source, mix tickets, cube IDs, and test results; attach certificates of analysis and delivery dockets.
25. Check acceptance against the approved plan: required pressure–volume response achieved without exceeding limits, uplift within criteria, and ports left sealed; record engineer acceptance per approved project specifications and authority requirements.
26. Archive the QA package to the common data environment: signed checklist, logs, photos, calibration certificates, and CSV exports; generate a QR-coded PDF/Excel export for audit.

Scope, boundaries, and why base grouting matters

This checklist covers base grouting of bored piles only: installing and testing grout ports at the pile toe, executing pressure grouting, monitoring uplift, and confirming acceptance. Shaft grouting is intentionally excluded to maintain clear scope and avoid mixing procedures. Effective base grouting densifies the bearing stratum, reduces toe settlement, and improves end-bearing reliability. The workflow begins with readiness checks—concrete strength, line integrity, calibrated instruments—and continues through staged pressure application while tracking millimetre-scale uplift at the pile head. Accurate, time-aligned pressure–volume–uplift data allows the team to judge when refusal is reached without over-pressurising or risking ground heave. By capturing photos, calibration records, and survey evidence, you produce a defensible QA trail per approved project specifications and authority requirements. The outcome is a safer, more predictable foundation with traceable acceptance and fewer post-construction disputes.

Base grouting only; shaft grouting excluded by scope.
Readiness checks prevent leaks and instrument drift.
Staged pressure aligns with uplift observations.
Evidence-driven acceptance avoids rework.
QA trail supports audit and handover.

Executing pressure stages and controlling uplift response

Successful base grouting balances pressure increments against real-time uplift measurements. Begin with a clean, primed system to eliminate air compressibility, then ramp pressure in controlled steps per the approved plan. Hold at each step to observe stabilisation, logging pressure (MPa), incremental and total volume (L), and uplift (mm). If uplift rises quickly without proportionate volume intake, reassess pressure, verify datum stability, and confirm packer sealing. Conversely, large volume intake at low pressure may indicate leaks or a soft toe, requiring line checks or revised staging. Stop criteria should be clear: design pressure not exceeded, uplift within set limits, and refusal indicated by negligible additional volume. After grouting, survey the pile head and correlate elevation change with logged uplift to validate instrument readings. This measured approach protects adjacent assets, reduces the risk of ground heave, and produces a clear pressure–volume curve for acceptance.

Prime lines to remove entrapped air.
Use deliberate pressure ramps and holds.
Correlate pressure, volume, and uplift.
Apply stop criteria without delay.
Survey to confirm gauge accuracy.

Documentation, traceability, and acceptance records

Documentation validates the technical work and enables transparent acceptance. Maintain a comprehensive grouting log capturing port IDs, start/stop times, pressure–volume–time data, and uplift readings tied to instrument IDs. Attach calibration certificates for pumps, gauges, and flow meters, along with grout mix tickets, temperature records, and cube test results. Material traceability—cement and admixture batches, water source—links performance to inputs. Photographs of port labelling, valve positions, gauge faces, and survey setups provide visual confirmation. Export raw data (CSV) and a pressure–volume curve plot for reviewer analysis. Acceptance should confirm the specified pressure–volume response, stable uplift within limits, and compliance with the plan, culminating in engineer approval per approved project specifications and authority requirements. Archive all records in the common data environment and issue a QR-secured PDF/Excel pack for audits and handover.

Keep raw data with calibrated instrument IDs.
Photograph key setups and readings.
Trace materials by batch and certificate.
Match acceptance to the approved plan.
Archive to a controlled data environment.

How to Use This Interactive Base-Grouting Checklist

Preparation: gather the approved grouting plan, ITP, calibrated pump, pressure gauges, flow meter, packers, grout mixer, materials, dial gauge/laser and survey kit; set up a safe exclusion zone and a clean work platform.
Open the checklist, select the pile ID, and preload reference documents (drawings, mix design, calibration files). Assign responsibilities and due times for each item to the field team.
Start interactive mode during operations. Tick completed items, add time-stamped comments, attach photos and CSV data, and flag any nonconformances directly from a tablet or phone.
Use the live summary to verify prerequisites are complete before grouting. During staging, log pressure–volume–uplift readings at the required intervals and link instrument IDs.
Export the completed record set as PDF/Excel with embedded photos and data tables. Share the QR-secured link with the engineer and QA for review and acceptance.
Sign-Off: obtain digital signatures from the supervisor, contractor, and engineer; archive to the common data environment with version control and QR authentication.

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Mei Zhang Mei Zhang

Jan 25, 2026

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FAQ

Question: What is the difference between base grouting and shaft grouting for bored piles?

Base grouting injects grout at the pile toe via ports to densify the bearing stratum and enhance end bearing. Shaft grouting targets the pile–soil interface along the shaft to improve side friction. This checklist covers base grouting only, focusing on toe ports, staged pressure, uplift monitoring, and acceptance documentation.

Question: When can I start base grouting after casting the bored pile?

Begin only after the concrete reaches the project-specified early strength and the approved grouting plan permits. Verify with compressive test reports or accepted in-situ correlation. Starting too early risks cracking and leakage; starting too late can increase resistance in lines. Always document strength (MPa) and approvals before grouting.

Question: How do I control and interpret uplift during grouting?

Install a dial gauge or laser sensor with a stable datum and zero it before pumping. Record uplift in millimetres at each pressure step and hold. Rising uplift with diminishing volume intake signals approaching refusal; excessive uplift triggers stop criteria. Correlate readings with a post-grout survey to validate instrument accuracy.

Question: What data must be logged for acceptance and audit?

Log pressure–volume–time data, uplift readings with instrument IDs, port IDs, start/stop times, grout mix details, temperatures, and materials traceability. Include calibration certificates, photos of setups and gauge faces, grouting logs, and survey results. Export raw data (CSV) and a pressure–volume curve; obtain engineer approval per approved specifications.

Question: What should I do if pressure rises sharply but volume intake stops?

Hold and observe stabilisation per the plan. Check packer seal, confirm valves and manifold positions, verify gauge calibration, and inspect for blocked lines. If acceptance criteria are met (refusal conditions), stop and record results; otherwise, consult the engineer before resuming. Do not exceed the design maximum pressure.